Apparatus for and method of forming storage-battery grids



v J. PRACHAR vAPPARATUS FOR AND METHOD 0F FRMING STORAGEABATXTEBY GRIDS July 19, 1927.

' Filed Jar.. s,

1921 4 vShawna-Sheep1'. 1

J. PRACHAR l A APPARATUS4 Fon-A315- METHOD oF Femme STORAGE Bursar @uns Filed Jan. s, ,1921 f 4 sheets-shea; 2

vr/f 3228 A J.v PRACHAR APPARATUS FOR AND METHO 0F FQRMlNG STORAGE BATTERY 'GRIDS Filed Jan. s, 1921 4vShale'ca-Sheets Enne-f1, 07%

` mmfnm y, J I cla/ JAL 'July 19,1927.

' APPARATUS Fp'n un METHOD oF FORMING STORAGE BATTERY Guns *v j'liled Jan. s, 149'21 4 Sheets-Shad 4v P similar viewfwithafsectiontakei Patented July 19., 1927,

f TED-sTATi-:s PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRACHAR, OE CLEVEIAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HAZELETT STORAGE BAT- TERY COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND,

OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FORMING STORAGE-BATTERY vGRIDS.

Application led January 3,

This invention relates to a lmethod and apparatus for forming certain articles, pai'- ticularly lead storage battery grids, and has A for its principal object to decrease the cost of production of storage battery grids as well as to provide an improved form of grid. In accordance with the present invention molten metal is cast into substantially the form of the finished grids on the surface of a rotatingcylinder whose surface is enveloped by a series of continuous grid molds. By pouring the metal onto the surface of this cylinder, or rather between the surface of the cylinder and the stationary arcshaped member which closely engages the lsurface of the cylinder, the grids are cast in semi-inhhed form and they may be con' ducted from the cylinder in tl'ie form of a continuous strip. Then the strip is preferably passed through a pair of finishing rolls which gives a iinished shape to the ribs making the shape on one side of the grid uniforrnwith the shape on the other side. After the strip passes from the rolls it may be cut transversely into double or single grids depending upon whether the strip formed on the cylinderl is thewidth of one grid or of two grids.

marized as consisting in certain novel 'details of construction of the improved grid forming apparatus, and lin certain novel steps of the improved method in forming the grids as will be described in the specification and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of the preferred form of apparatus, this view lshowing the apparatus when viewed from ythe left of Fig. 2;

.40 Fig. 2 an end -vieW with parts' in section; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view looking toward the cylinder in the direction indicated by the arrow -marked A at the left hand corner of Fig. 2, this view showing the trimming knife and the stripping comb; Fig. 4 is a partial sectional vrolls and showing *a portion of the grid passing therethrough, the section being taken transversely of the rolls; Fig. 5 is a longitudilfnall of the rolls; Fig. 6 is a transverse section through a portion of one of the grids as it is formed on the casting cylinder and l showing the shape ofthe ribs before the p latter are nished in iipishingrol'ls'gFig.

View 'of the gridfinishing 1921. sei-iai No. 434,495.

7 is a side View showing a modification, this view showing the ap-paratus viewed from the left hand side of Fig, 8; Fig. 8 isk an end View of the machine shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

- Referring nowto the drawings, the apparatus includes la rotary casting cylinder 10 supported on a shaft 11, journaled in the ends 12 of a stationary frame, this cylinder4 being preferably formedy of cast iron. This shaft 11, may be driven by any suitable means such as bv means of a shaft 13 shownv injFig. 2, which is connected to the shaft 11, by worm gearin 14.

Cut into the surface of the cylinder are .a series of grid molds which in this instance are continuous so that the grids after being cast can be led from the cylinder in the form of a continuous strip.A In this instance the grids are not only cast in the form of a continuous strip, but ldouble grids are formed, that is to say, when the strip is cut transversely into sections of the width of a grid, the cut 0H sections each consist of two grids end to end, which may be divided into single grids by cutting the section at the center. By reference to Fig. 1 it will hggbserved that each grid forming` mold 4 has rather close circumferentially formed rib forming grooves 15 (which form the horizontal ribs of a grid) and it is provided also with grooves "16 ai; right angles to the grooves 15 spaced somewhat further apart than the latter, the grooves 16 yforming the vertical ribs of a grid. The contiguous double grid molds are joined together by fairly widevgrooves 17, in which are formed divided centrallyto separate each double the bars or portions of lead adapted to be` grid from the adjoining double grid. kAdditionally the contiguous grid bounded by circumferential which form the ends of the grids, ing lug forming extensions 19, by lugs--are formedsonsopposite ends double grid. Likewise there is a central groove 20 which forms a bar or strip of lead which is adapted to be `out centrally to divide the grids.

The metal molds are grooves 18 these havis poured the grid molds on the surface/of the cylinder from a/ reser-rf voir 21 to which metal in liquid form is supplied from a melting pot, a portion of 110 double grid sections into single which is shown at 22. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 that-thls reservolr 21,/

is located alongside the cylinder below itsv center.

The metal Aflows or is delivered from the reservoir 21 into thegrid molds of the-cylinder through an orice or gate 23 which will extend the full Width of the strip to be cast. The metal runs into the circumferentially and axially disposed grooves forming the grid molds, between the surface of the cylinder and avstationary mold block. 24 having a cylindrical surface which conforms to the cylindrical shape of the cylinder, and winch `between, the cylinder and the mold block 24,

and congeals before it passes beyond the limits of the latter. To hasten the congeal- 4ing I contemplate providing the lower part of the block 24 with a passageway 25 for water to cool the block, and by regulating l the flow of-water the temperature of the block andi-of the surface portion of the cylinder and the hardness of the-metal as it 'passes beyond the block can be nicely controlled.

A short distance beyond the mold block 24 I provide a cutter in the form of a blade 26 which extends across the surface of the cylinder in contact therewith so as to cut off any lead which may project beyond the surface of the casting cylinder, and a short distance beyond the cutting or trimming blade 26 I provide a comb 27 having teeth which extend down into all thefcircnmferential 'grooves 15, 18 and 20 so as to lift or draw the molded strip from the mold, the strip passing out as shown in Fig. 2 between thev cutter 26 and the comb 2 7. l

In view ofthe fact that drawing clearance is necessary, naturally the ribs at' the outer portions of the grooves are thicker than at inthe inner portions or bases of the grooves.

For example, in Fig. 6 I have shown a portion of a grid G on a slightly enlarged -scale, the ribs formed by the circumferen-v A tial'g'rooves 15 being shown at g. In Fig.

4; are shown the ribs vwhich are formed by the axial grooves 16, these ribs being designat-ed g. Inasmuch as storage battery' grids are iilledwith ac-tiveilnaterial consistlng of'co'mpacted, finely divided substances,

' it is apparent that with the ribs/of the shape shownl in Fig. 6 there would be a tendency for the material to fall from the grids. To

.obviate this, I pass the strip as it extends from the cylinder, through what may be termedl finishingr'llsQS which are driven so that theirvsurface speed is the samev as the surface speed of the cylinder. These rolls have grooves shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which as far as their location is.V concerned, are

.the rolls being quite close together `as appears from Fig. 5, the shape of the ribson one side of the strip are made the same as those on the other, and I prefer that at the center g the ribs be provided while they are passing through the rolls with a slight tin designated g2, this fin Aprojecting on 4both sides of the ribs g and serving to hold the material in place.

After the strip passes between the rolls 28 it may be cut into sections midway of the bars 17 forming the double gridswhich can later be divided, either before or after the grids are pasted with the active material.

I may, if necessary, provide a gas pipe 30 alongside the cylinder 10 to heat the cylinder when the machine is first started up and to coat the molds with carbon to prevent the castings sticking to the molds. -Additionally I may provide similar gas pipes 31 by which llames may be directed on the rolls 28 to heat these rolls, if necessary, s6 as to slightly soften the metal so that the ribs can be moldedinto the desired finished shape which I have illustrated in the drawings. I do not regard these heating pipes as essential as the strip may be'suiciently soft when -it reaches the rolls 28.

I prefer also to provide alongsidefthe cylinder a cleaning brush 32 to clean out of the grooves any small particles of lead, the brush engaging the surface of the cylinder at anv suitable point beyond the point where thel strip led from the cylinder. f Y

By the above vapparatus and process grids are formed in a continuous operation, first by casting them on the surface of the rotating cylinder into 'strip form with the strip composed of contiguous double grids (or single grids if desired) and then by shaping the bars or ribs of the-gridsby taking the strip v from the cylinder and passing it through or between a' pair of rolls which molds or re` shapes portions of the bars or ribs, givin the latter a shapesuch'that they are we suited to hold or retain the active material. 'Ihe machine shown in Figs. 7, '8 and 9 1s 1n principle like that first described, differing therefrom simply in the relative arrangement of the parts which `co-operatl with.V the cylinder. .In vthis instance the drum or cylinder corresponding to 'the cylinder 10 is shown at 35, this cylinder having its riphery formed into id molds Ypremetal is poured from a reseiv-iiJ `361 which 1s located above vthe cylinder, and is suplll .cise y like""'tl'1'e-drumel()w *..nthiscase the l the vfirst construction.

rotated, and is retained in place by the bot-y tom of the reservoir, and when it passes beyond the bottom surface of the reservoir it is congealed. Just beyond thereservon` I provide a blade or knife 38 vwhich peels oif any excess metal which projects above the surface of the cylinder, this blade corresponding to the blade 26 of the first construction, and just beneath or beyond the blade I provide acomb 39 which lifts-the strip from the drum and allows it to pass between the finishing rolls 39 which correspond to and`perform the function of the rolls 28 of Additionally I may provide a cleaning brush 40 and heating' pipes 41 may be utilized to heat the finishing rolls 39% Additionally I may provide in the bottom of the reservoir 36- passageways or openings to receive heating pipes 42 for maintaining metal in the reservoir at the proper temperature.

l The construction and operation of the machine shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is like that first described, the metalfirst being cast into strip form composed of the contiguous or joining double grids (or single grids as .the

case may be) and then the strip thus formed being stripped from the cylinder and passed through the finisl'iing rolls which give the ribs of the grids the necessary uniformity of shape and provide them with the means for 'holding the active material in the interstices of the grids between the ribs.

lVhile either form of the invention may be used, I prefer the, construction first described, for the reason that the temperatures are more easily controlled, thus doing'away with the necessity of a skilled operator, whereas the machine last described will require more careful attention than the first. I do not wish to be confined to the use of the rollsv in conjunction with the casting cylinder. for I believe that in casting thin grids.

such, for example,'as grids one-thirty-second of an inch in thickness, the shaping rolls can be dispensed with', though the latter are useful when relatively thick grids are cast.

The rolls 28 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3, andthe rolls 39 of the construetion shown in Figs. 7 to 9 may be driven in any suitable manner by the mechanism which drives the casting cylinder, and in Fig'. 1 I have shown the shaft of the upper roll 28 extended and provided at its end with a driving sprocket, and have shown the j shafts of the two rolls connected in driving les relation by powertransmitting gears 28.a of lequal size. i

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus for forming storage battery grids, a rotary cylinder with the grid forming molds formed by grooves in its cylindrical surface, a stationary member having a cylindrical surface arranged adjacent to the cylindrical surface of the cylinder, means for supplying molten metal between the two cylindr1cal surfaces and into the molds, and means independent of the molds for stripping the molded grids from the cylinder. 2. In an apparatus for forming storage battery grids, meansfor molding a strip of' grids from molten metal comprising a rotary cylinder having contiguous or joining grid of intersecting grooves by which the ribs l and outlining or frame portions yare produced, and means adjacent the cylinder for deforming the ribs so as to make the shape o f1 the ribs substantially uniform on both s1( es.

4. The method of forming storage battery grids which consists in casting grids in a' part having a grid mold whose depth is substantially the thickness of the grid, drawing the molded grid from the mold, and deforming the ribs of the grid so as to make them substantially the same on both sides ofthe grid. 5. The method of forming storage lbattery grids which consists in pouring metal onto the surface of a moving memberhaving contiguous grid forming molds formed in its surface so as to form a strip of grids, taking the strip from said member and finishing the ribs of the grid so as to make them effective for holding active material.

6. The method of forming storage battery grids which comprises pouring metal onto the surface of a cylinder having a continuous strip of grid forming molds formed in its surface and composed of intersecting rib and frame forming grooves, conducting the strip thus formed'from the cylinder and passing it between finishing rolls which reshape the ribs so as to make them eective for holding active material. i

7 L In an vapparatus for forming storage battery grids, a cylinder having a series of spaced circumferential grooves intersected by transverse rooves which form grid molds, and a strlpper comb having teeth engaging in said circumferential grooves for stripping said molded grids from said cyl-v in the crucibie walls adjacent to said pourinder. Y ing slot on both sides vthereof for heating' 8. In' casting apparatus, arotatabie`cy1in-v the Crucible and contents. 1 Y 1 der having mold recesses formed in the eX- In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my t. terior surface thereof, a. Crucible havin Aa signature.

pouring slot ositioned to discharge mo ten Y metal into sai recesses, and. means positioned Y J OHN PRACHAR. 

